Mapped: The countries with the cheapest Big Macs

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A Big Mac might taste the same the world over – but the price varies wildly. Head to the source – America – and you'll pay a shade over $5. But get your meat fix in Egypt and you could get THREE Big Macs (that's SIX individual meat patties and 1650 calories!) for just $4.38.

Those countries shown in lighter colours on the map below have the cheapest burgers (perfect if you planning to travel on a shoestring and only eat at McDonald's); those in darker colours have the costliest.

Four countries (Egypt, Ukraine, Malaysia and South Africa) proffer Big Macs for under $2 a pop. The most expensive nation in which to sample the gourmet delight is (surprise, surprise) Switzerland, where it costs a whopping $6.35. Norway, Sweden and Venezuela follow. A Big Mac costs the equivalent of $3.73 in the UK.

The Big Mac in all its gloryCredit:
ALAMY

The 10 countries with the cheapest Big Macs

Egypt - $1.46

Ukraine - $1.54

Malaysia - $1.79

South Africa - $1.89

Russia - $2.15

Taiwan - $2.16

Mexico - $2.23

Poland - $2.30

Indonesia - $2.33

Sri Lanka - $2.33

The 10 countries with the costliest Big Macs

Switzerland - $6.35

Norway - $5.67

Sweden - $5.26

Venezuela - $5.25

Brazil - $5.12

United States - $5.06

Finland - $4.76

Canada - $4.51

Italy - $4.40

Israel - $4.38

The Big Mac index was devised by the Economist in 1986 to gauge currency misalignment and test the theory of purchasing power parity, which states that – over time – exchange rates should automatically equalise the prices of identical goods or services in any two countries.

Labour costs, of course, are lower in poorer countries, so the Economist has also developed an adjusted index, which takes into account each nation's per capita GDP (see map below). It suggests that Big Macs ought to be a lot cheaper in Brazil, Pakistan, Thailand, Colombia and Chile, and a lot more expensive in Egypt, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Taiwan and South Africa.